Touch of Fate

Chapter 136: Serious Thoughts

[We need to talk? That brings up some bad memories.]

"What's wrong?" Mike asked.

"What's wrong, is that those soldiers that were attacking us, were wearing the crest of Tennundi. This is tantamount to them declaring war on the kingdom. Have you given any thought to the repercussions of that kind of action?" Sera responded seriously.

[Why am I slightly relieved that this is what's bothering her?]

"I haven't yet. I mean, it only just happened a little while ago, but I see your point. You are asking whether or not I feel we should get involved in a war, right?"

"That's correct. It's a serious question. I know some of us are native to Almir, but it's not like we have any real ties here. There's not much to stop us from simply getting on a ship to some other region. Then there is the question of whether or not you even should involve yourself in war. Not only are you" She looked around furtively, before quietly continuing, "...the Hero, but people might think you are a Dragonknight as well. You should know that this will have consequences."

"I understand. Truthfully, I haven't really decided what to do yet. There is a lot to consider. What are your thoughts on it?" He asked the group.

By this point Brenden and Audra had stopped their horseplay, with the little dragon sitting triumphantly on the grumbling beastman's head. He nevertheless spoke up, "I certainly don't owe this country anything, and I have no desire to die in its defense, but there is one thing we need to consider. There are a lot of opportunities for both monetary and social advancement in war. With our strength and Mike's inherent ridiculousness, we could get a lot of benefits from joining in."

Tal cut in, "Risky. Can go wrong."

"True." The Brenden replied. "We could all end up dead, just because someone wants to wear a pointy golden hat, but this really goes back to the original question. What is it that we are trying to accomplish? I know we averted the apocalypse not too long ago, but what else beyond that?"

The group fell silent for a moment, contemplating the question. Audra contributed her opinion by hopping up onto Mike's shoulder and curling up in the crook of his neck, which garnered a jealous look from Sera.

Looking around at the other students who were still milling about, Mike suggested that they continue this conversation in the dorm. The others agreed. When they were settled into the living room, he was the first to speak as well.

"So, I think we need to decided on the path we want to pursue as a group. What is it we wish to accomplish? What goals do we have?"

Sera frowned, "Well, you are the leader. What do you think?"

He thought about it for a moment, "I just started my education, and I think that it would be beneficial in the long term to continue it. Personally, I would like to remain here, at least until becomes too difficult to do so. As to whether or not to join in on the war, I kind of agree with Brenden. If we choose to stay in Almir, then fighting might be the best option. I would need to just try and keep a low profile."

Brenden snorted. "I don't think that's possible for you. Anyway, I concur. Like I said earlier, I'm not fond of this country, and I certainly don't want to die for it, but at the same time I don't want to see it overrun by hostile invaders either. If we can get rich in the process, so much the better."

Tal simply nodded, seemingly content to follow along with the rest of the group.

"That's all well and good, but as the Hero, you have a duty to the entire world. The gods have given you power for the sake of all the living beings of Ea. Using it to take sides in a territorial war could backfire. Especially if you need to build an international coalition in the future, for any reason." Sera pointed out.

"I understand where you are coming from, and even putting aside the benefits, Almir is the closest thing I have to a home. Much like Brenden, I don't want to see it destroyed. Especially if I have the power to prevent it. Besides, we already averted an apocalypse once, surely the world won't face another one so soon."

There was a moment of silence, as all three of them realized Mike was really just trying to convince himself of that fact.

Sera finally sighed, "It seems like you've already made up your mind then. So, the next thing we need to figure out is, in what capacity are you wanting to assist the kingdom. I can tell you with a great deal of confidence, that if all you want is to gain the most benefit from the process, you could approach them in your Dragonknight persona. The government would give you practically anything in exchange for your aid."

"Surely you are exaggerating."

"I don't think you understand the legacy of the Dragonknights. While they may have had a poor public image a couple hundred years ago, that has changed. The people of this country forgot what the Dragonknights were, and have instead built an image of what they represented. They've become figures of chivalry, heroism, and virtue. Now you can go to any low class bookstore and find cheap novels about the exploits of the Dragonknights. Exploits that are exaggerated, if not outright fabricated. Plays are held in which the hero or heroine of the story mounts a dragon to face their final challenge. The Dragonknights have become legends in Almir, and if you claim to represent that legacy, the people will worship you for it."

"So pretty much the same thing that would happen if people found out about my Hero title." He shot back.

Sera thought about it for a moment, before nodding her agreement, "More or less, although the whole Hero thing would be more troublesome in the long run. The Dragonknights were never expected to save the world."

"Nevertheless, I think I would like to pass on that level of attention, at least for now. Since I've already gone to the trouble of crafting a memorable disguise for my 'Dragonknight persona' as you call it, I can use it when we're in need of a powerful draconic ally."

She shrugged, "If that's what you want. Then what we need to do is figure out how we will be participating, and in what capacity. Since you are a low ranking member of the Adventurer's Guild, there shouldn't be any problem serving as a mercenary. Alternatively, you could enlist in one of the armies, or try to find a position in service to one of the major houses. Nobles are expected to finance their own military units during wars."

"Would there have been a problem with it, if I was a high ranking adventurer?" Mike asked, curious.

Brenden fielded this one. "The Guild is, in theory, a neutral international organization. As such, its a problem if high profile members take part in wars. This really only extends to Rank 7 and up, though, and its not uncommon to see mercenary contracts for low ranking adventurers during wartime."

"That makes sense. I guess that means the guildmaster from Wyrport won't get involved."

The beastman grimaced, "Well, the Crimson Disaster probably wouldn't be a part of it, even if she wasn't in the guild. I suppose you don't know much about the strategic considerations for Tier 4s, do you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tier 4s are kind of like trump cards for nations, especially in the case of Tier 4 mages. They can single handedly change the course of a war, and most countries try to keep one or two in their service. The problem is that, if one side brings their Tier 4 into the conflict, its not uncommon for the other country to do likewise. This usually only increases the amount of destruction to both sides."

[Ah, they're basically being treated like nuclear weapons.] Mike thought back to the way the guildmaster acted during the Night of Ruin. It actually made a lot of sense.

Sera followed up, "So, its unusual to see any of them actually becoming involved unless the fate of the country is in question. However, we've gotten sidetracked. Have you thought about how you want to get involved?"

"I'm not really sure at the moment. I'd like to think about it some more." He said reluctantly.

"That's alright, we probably have a few weeks, at least, before they make any major moves. Worst case scenario, they'll issue a Call to Arms, which will forcibly conscript anyone of the appropriate age, effectively making the decision for you."

Mike felt a slight sense of foreboding at the thought. [Why does it feel like some flags were raised recently.]

This effectively brought an end to the conversation, and the group separated for their own purposes. The womenfolk took the opportunity to use the fancy bathroom to the fullest extent, spending the better part of the afternoon enjoying it. Brenden, on the other hand, simply took a nap on the couch.

Left to his own devices, Mike went to his room, broke out the leather-bound journal he'd picked up while shopping, and started copying down chants from the basic Elemental Magic book. He was enjoying the simple, mindless task as he thought about the future.

[Well, as I told Selenica back when I was being reincarnated, I really only wanted to live an interesting life. It seems like that particular wish is being fulfilled a little too effectively. Other than that, there isn't much else I want.]

He'd reached the point that his material needs were being taken care of, he had access to a wealth of knowledge, he had a group of companions he could rely on, and he could continue to improve and expand his skills without any real risk. Quite frankly, he didn't really need much more to be satisfied.

[Is it wrong to not have any other ambitions?]

He stopped his writing, when he realized that the sentence he was trying to record didn't make sense. The flow of the language seemed to be a little more disjointed than the others he'd copied down up to this point. The spell in question was supposed to created a sphere of quickly spinning wind. According to the description, it was mainly used to protect against arrows or other lightweight projectiles.

Considering the phrasing, he modified the chant slightly, trying to make it flow better. When he was finished, he ran the sentence through his mind, feeling satisfied.

[I can't wait to try this one out.]